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SOISSONS AND RHEIMS [Allocated Title]

Summary: English language version of a French film of the German bombardment of Soissons in January 1915 and Rheims in March 1917, Western Front.

Description: The film is incomplete and without its proper opening. The opening sequence alternates between shots of the diary of a German Artillery officer and captions of its contents, stating that the German bombardment of January-February 1915 deliberately used Soissons Cathedral as its aiming-point. President Poincaré visits the city, which shows severe damage. A bridge over the River Aisne has been destroyed. This is followed by a panorama of Rheims in March 1917. French soldiers walk casually through the streets, buying milk from a passing vendor who also sells to housewives in the ruins. Another woman sells newspapers to the soldiers as they clear the rubble. The Mayor, Dr Langlet, is posed with two assistants. Children run to play near the cathedral. The archbishop, Mgr Luçon, is shown. The children play by the school wearing gas hoods since "asphyxiating shells are about to fall". More children, "the victims sought by the German batteries", play in the area. Near the city French 320mm railway guns open fire. One of the divisions presented to Poincaré on his visit. The French attack out of the trenches into a wood at Godault Farm on 6th April 1917 (possibly faked, the camera is very exposed). German prisoners are escorted back. The attack continues through the wood.

Notes: Summary: this is French official film, possibly part of the early series which continues as IWM 508 ANNALES DE LA GUERRE
Technical: formerly held as IWM 435 PMA 3 reels 1 and 2
Remarks: the battle sequences are a marked improvement on their British counterparts, but are probably not completely genuine, looking at times a little too good to be true